British Summer Time festival: Kylie Minogue announces Hyde Park show

Kylie Minogue has confessed that she still cannot understand how she became one of the nation’s favourite music stars - but believes it was always her destiny to climb to the top of the pop world.

In an exclusive interview with the Standard, the 46-year-old singer revealed she had no intention of slowing down because she still finds performing live as addictive as a drug.

The Australian was speaking as she announced she will play Hyde Park this summer as a headline act at Barclaycard presents British Summer Time.

She said: “I will have moments where things still takes my breath away all the time - literally, all the time. Sometimes I don’t quite know how this has all happened and think, ‘Is this my real life?’

“I guess at the same time I know more than anybody else how much work I’ve put in and the sacrifices I’ve made to do it. But even that sometimes feels beyond me because I just think it’s my destiny and that part of it was already decided.

Performance: Kylie Minogue in concert at the NIA, Birmingham in October 2014 (Picture: Jason Sheldon/REX)

“That’s especially in the case of the UK. When Neighbours was first here, it was like there was no choice - you really took us to heart. Back at that time I was just thankful to have a job. I’d finished school - you reach that stage where you’ve got to make money for yourself. Could I have ever in my wildest dreams predicted that all of this would happen to me? No way.”

Kylie admitted she still gets nervous before shows, adding: “I find it happens when ten minutes is called. That’s the time to saddle up, get your pack on, get your ear piece, check your mic and do that walk to the stage that most people don’t see.

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“It really is like, and this may not sound like the best comparison, but like a boxer or a sports person going in to do their thing. Although I’m hopefully not about to get pummelled!

“But you are going out there and getting two hours to do your best, draw on all your experience and be prepared for all the things that you can’t account for. Unexpected thing happen all the time and that’s part of the drug and why you keep going back.”

Gracing the stage: Grace Jones On Blackheath Festival in London (Picture: Neil White/REX)

Minogue will headline a disco-themed bill on Sunday June 21, which includes Grace Jones and Chic featuring Nile Rodgers.

She said: “London has been my home for such a long time, I’m honestly looking forward to sharing this with them. Let’s hope there’s a British summer time, but even if there’s not we’ll be singing in the rain - I don’t care!”

Kylie makes an appearance in the forthcoming disaster movie San Andreas with Dwayne Johnson, and said that acting is something she will always be passionate about.

“I had a bit of a flutter,” she said. “It’s just a cameo but it was good for me to dip my toe and feel the excitement of being on set. It kind of felt like I was home in a way, even though I don’t do it that often.

“It’s harder to find the right projects and people don’t think of me as an actress any more because I’ve been doing music pretty consistently since the beginning. But there’s this little pilot light inside of me that will always be on even if the fire might not be roaring. I still love that challenge.”

Kylie’s London show will wrap up a year of touring after her 12th studio album Kiss Me Once, but warned fans not to expect a new record “any time soon”.

Barclaycard presale tickets are on sale now, with general tickets on sale from 9am on Friday from bst-hydepark.com.